#construction debris conflict

[townpostin]

Neighbor Dispute Erupts into Violence in Jamshedpur's Mango Area

Three seriously injured in fierce fight over construction debris in Daigutu Dhobi Line A violent altercation between neighbors in Jamshedpur’s Mango area leaves three men seriously wounded. JAMSHEDPUR – A dispute over construction debris escalated into a violent confrontation in Daigutu Dhobi Line, Mango police station area, resulting in three men sustaining serious injuries. The incident…

[moonstruckme]

Can you do poly!marauders where reader has kinda a shitty family? Like, where their family belittles them and insults them and gets mad over them existing so whe reader is back at hogwarts the next year she's as fragile as a china shop uncomfortablely close to a bull farm??

Only do it if your comfortable with it <3

Make sure to take care of yourself and remeber you are loved <3 <3

Thanks for requesting, love you and hope you're taking care of yourself as well <3

cw: hints at emotional abuse

poly!marauders x fem!reader ♡ 1.3k words

You’re quiet, all of a sudden. The distance over the last few months had been rough for all of you, gone to your separate homes for the summer, but Remus is beginning to suspect it was most difficult for you; you can’t seem to find your way back to them. It’s like you’ve constructed a shell around yourself over the short three months you’ve been apart, and none of James’ loving, Sirius’ teasing, or Remus’ offerings of a study companion have proved successful in drawing you back out. 

He’s sure you think you’re being subtle. You certainly haven’t addressed your boyfriends’ worries, either missing or ignoring the looks they send each other when you don’t jump in on a joke they’re doing or answer in a quiet, meek voice when they ask you a question. It’s as if you’re afraid of being heard, of being noticed at all. 

Remus doesn’t like it one bit. 

Neither do the others, of course, and he and James have had to talk Sirius down from confronting you about it multiple times already in the week since you’ve been back. You seem…fragile, somehow, and Remus doesn’t think pushing you will get the results they all want. James seems to think you’ll come back to them on your own if they give you time, and Remus isn’t so sure, but it’s the plan he’s rolling with for now. 

Still, he doesn’t think it’s out of line to intervene when he catches you carrying a stack of books that has to be half your weight. Last year, he’s positive you would have asked for help, but now you only grunt quietly as the stack wobbles above your head. 

“Let me take some of those for you,” Remus offers, already standing, and you flinch as if your distracting him from his homework is a punishable offense. The stack teeters dangerously with your sudden movement. 

“That’s okay,” you squeak, leaning back a bit in an attempt to get your tower of books under control. You look timid, wide-eyed like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, afraid of getting in trouble. “You can sit back down, I’ve—” You don’t even get the chance to finish your excuse before the books topple, scattering about. Remus flinches internally when some fall down on your head, and another sends an empty glass on the edge of the coffee table crashing to the ground. 

You cover your mouth with your hand, staring in silent horror at the mess around you. 

James and Sirius, playing cards on the other side of the coffee table, look up at the commotion. 

“Shit,” Sirius says (a rather eloquent sum-up in Remus’ opinion). “Are you okay?”

“I’m so sorry,” you breathe, crouching and beginning to gather the broken glass in your hands.  “I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I did that.” 

“Don’t—be careful,” Remus starts to say, but then you lose your balance, stepping backwards just slightly and letting out a tiny hiss. 

Remus stands, but James gets to you first, careful to keep away from the broken glass himself as he lifts you clear of the debris and deposits you onto the couch. 

“I’m sorry,” you say again, impossibly quiet. You’re looking between your boyfriends as if unsure what they want you to do. 

“Angel, it’s okay,” James insists, coming to sit down in front of you. “We’ll clean it up in a bit, don’t worry. Did you hurt yourself?”

You look down at your foot, sucking your bottom lip into your mouth.

“A little,” you admit. “Sorry.” 

“Stop that,” Remus says sternly. “It was a mistake. We only care that you’re hurt.” 

You look conflicted, and Remus can practically see your next apology forming on your tongue, but before you can utter it, James asks gently, “Can I have a look, sweetheart?”

You blink at him, nodding hesitantly. James is careful as he takes your ankle in his hand, lifting your foot in front of his face. His expression clears a little. “Okay, it’s just a little piece,” he says, adjusting his hold before picking out a tiny bit of glass and flicking it into the pile with the rest. “There you go.” 

You nod your thanks, curling your foot underneath you. You’re being quiet as a rabbit, Remus thinks, all tense and wary but afraid to make a single sound. Whether you notice or not, the unease in the room grows with every second of your silence. 

Finally, it appears Sirius can’t be held at bay any longer. 

“Alright,” he says, more frustration in his tone than Remus thinks is really a good idea, “what’s going on with you?”

You look surprised. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You’ve been acting like someone’s going to shout at you ever since we got back this year.” Sirius lowers his voice, eyebrows scrunching together just slightly. “It was being at home, wasn’t it? Something happened.” 

You flush, and Remus feels suddenly like this is a conversation he has no right to be in. Of course Sirius would be the one to pick up on it if  your family was what was making you act this way. No wonder he’d been so insistent they needed to get to the bottom of it. That’s something he can understand, whereas Remus and James never could. 

“Nothing happened,” you say, and Sirius narrows his eyes like he doesn’t believe you. “I just…okay, don’t be mad.” 

“No one is going to be mad at you, sweetheart,” Remus says, feeling like his heart is working its way up his throat with the words. “We’re just…you’ve seemed so different, and it’s scaring us a little bit. We just want to know what we can do to help.” 

You look hesitant, and James reaches forward, taking your hand in both of his and rubbing at it with his thumbs. You nod, seeming a bit more confident now, and say, “There’s nothing you can really do. I just need some time.” 

James nods back, looking at you with brown eyes big and open and understanding. Remus often wishes he could convey even half James’ earnestness, but he doesn’t know anyone with the same capacity for warmth. “Time for what, darling?”

You nibble on your lower lip, and Remus has to repress the urge to rescue it from between your teeth. “Well, we didn’t really get close until a couple months into fall term last year, right?”

“Right,” James agrees. 

“So…I wouldn’t expect you to know, but it always sort of takes me a bit to…adjust back to school life.” 

Sirius still looks like he wants to fight something, but he’s more careful to keep his anger out of his voice now. “Why’s that?”

You shrug. “You’re not wrong. My family isn’t always as…patient with me as you guys are. They’re not awful, it’s just, I get into a habit of being quieter around them.” Remus’ heart feels like lead in his chest. “It takes me a while to get out of the habit once I get back.” 

“Honey,” James murmurs, not looking much better than Remus feels. “I’m sorry.” 

You give him a little smile, shifting uncomfortably. “You don’t need to act like it’s such a tragedy,” you joke. “I’ll get over it soon.” 

James looks distressed, but Remus cuts in. “I’m sorry you don’t feel like you can be yourself at home, lovely girl,” he says in what he hopes is a light but soothing tone, unsure what you need right now but gathering from your demeanor that it’s not their pity. He slides his arm around your back to tug you closer to him. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

You hum contentedly, leaning against his side. “Not really,” you reply. “You guys are too good to me, it’s hard to be quiet around you for long.” 

“Good,” Sirius says firmly, “because we don’t want you to. Want to go scream off the astronomy tower, sweet thing? Maybe that’ll help loosen you up.” 

“Actually, I’d really like to clean up my mess before someone comes down here and steps on it,” you admit. “But maybe we can try your yelling thing tomorrow.”

[30horsechariot]

Minoa, home of the Minoan Federated States, is at war. The ivory vessels of the Gloriana Fleet hunt in packs across orbit, beckoned ever further into conflict by the head of their warhost, the machine god “Glory.” Hangar bays disgorge wings of mobile frames and sortie amongst ruined colonies whilst mechanized warfare drives the battlelines on the planet below. The Nascent Night ends and a new epoch begins. Minoa is at war.

A). The Aegean Waygate. In a previous era, extrasolar communities were connected via a series of superstructures known as waygates. These colony sized installations were fed space-faring vessels into their yawning mouths, snapping them to other gates with night-instantaneous transmission to ferry supplies, people, and information across the galaxy. This era of connection ended suddenly and without warning, as the waygate network collapsed and threw many systems into disarray and isolation. This period of history became known as the Nascent Night, for up until that point humanity had found strength within their relationships with each other. When the Nascent Night came, once more we were reminded that the scariest thing about the dark is not what could be lurking just beyond your vision, but that we would have to face whatever that specter is well and truly alone. 

B). The Gloriana Fleet. The Nascent Night ended with a horrible display of violence, as the Aegean Gate was reopened and through its maw the gleaming white warhost of the Gloriana Empire arrived. They came with weapons and banners, proclaiming without pause their mission to reclaim all which they thought was theirs, to connect humanity once more under their crimson laurels. Calls for liberation and unification flood their airwaves, stylizing themselves as the dawn of a new era of prosperity. Intelligence shows the colossal machine at the heart of their fleet goes by the name “Glory”, and serves as both acting commander and eidolon for the imperial force. Reports indicate that this is not the first theater Glory has served in, and that it does not expect Minoa to be its last. 

C). The Lunar Shore. What is now a bank of rubble spread across the north of Minoan space had at one point in time been the lunar companion of the planet, titled Briar. It was during the Nascent Night that Briar was ruined, orbital warring and weapons of mass destruction reducing the once proud satellite to a loose body of debris. Now, the Lunar Shore is home to people who do not want to be found, pirate groups, separatist movements and stranger folk still inhabit this fractured land, constructing platforms and asteroid bases within the dense moonrock. Larger ships struggle to navigate the shore safely, and so it has become a hotbed for skirmishes and smaller conflicts peppered within its borders. 

D). Minoa, home of the Minoan Federated States. The Nascent Night brought with it an acute power vacuum, followed by conflict between the various nations of Minoa and her colonies. Soon after the moon was destroyed, the dominant power and successor government of the Minoan Federated States was born. Finally united under one banner, the MFS led the recovery of Minoa and reestablished a sense of order. The MFS made Minoa what it is today, but state histories fail to mention the many bodies that it burned in the struggle to unify. A temperate and diverse planet, Minoa’s ecology appeals to both the home and away teams and it is unclear how far each side is willing to go to keep it. 

E). The Colonies. Part of the settling of Minoa from so long ago was an institution of space colonies, oblong superstructures that operate as micronations or states in their own right. A significant part of the MFS unification war was incorporating the colonies as members within the Federation, not just allied sovereign entities. In the modern age enough time has passed that anti-colony and anti-planet sentiments have cooled, but it is impossible to ignore the shattered remains of colonies that were lost during that conflict, twisted and burnt metal floating just on the edge of their space.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: ALMS AND CHARITY: VIRTUES OF ZAKAT: Part 1

WHAT DOES ZAKAT MEAN?

Zakat, literally, holds numerous meanings: to profit, to purify, to increase, to be worthy, nice, mercy, truth, blessing, to extol and to exonerate are just to mention a few. All of these abundant meanings can be sighted in the Qur’an and hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him).

For instance, in the following verses, “He has indeed prospered who purifies it (the self)” and “Prosperous indeed are those who purify themselves,” zakat means to purify and to exonerate, while it is also used to denote prosperity in another verse: “A compassion from Our presence, and prosperity.” Additionally, it can refer to purity itself “…and let him see what food is purest there.”

Moreover in many verses, zakat denotes purification, as corroborated by a hadith that uses the same word in describing the sanitization of soil. Consider these references: “…that is more virtuous for you, and purer”, “…for that is purer for you,” “…and let him see what food is purest there,”  “He said ‘I am only a Messenger of your Lord to announce to you the gift of a pure son,’” “And Moses said: ‘Have you slain a pure soul though he had killed nobody?’” 

WHAT IS TO BE GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD BY ZAKAT IN ISLAM?

In Islamic terminology, zakat is the process where a certain amount of property or money is collected from those who are sufficiently endowed and then given to a needy group of people, with donors, recipients, and the proportion of required donations being clearly specified in both the Qur’an and Sunna. Taking this definition into account, zakat (the prescribed purifying alms) is simply spending what has been bestowed by God, in the amount and places designated by Him, for the sole purpose of physical and spiritual purification.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ZAKAT ON SOCIETY? (Part 1)

Zakat, with its innumerable facets, is a bond between members of society, one wherein collective harmony is dependent on individual harmony. Zakat explicitly creates a virtuous setting that eliminates various social problems by establishing a harmonious atmosphere for both the rich and the poor. In a nutshell, zakat forestalls, reduces, or eliminates social conflicts, strengthens the growth of the middle class, and obviates all of the greatest social diseases pertaining to financial issues, especially interest and money-hoarding.

ZAKAT REDUCES CLASS STRUGGLES

The establishment and maintenance of social solidarity are maximized when the gap between social classes is kept at a minimum and the voids likely to cause social conflicts are filled. In other terms, relations between the rich and the poor must not deteriorate if anarchy is to be avoided. Undoubtedly, the most important power that upholds these crucial relations between the rich and the poor is zakat and other principles of assistance. In societies where zakat ceases to exist, the precipice between the rich and the poor widens to the effect where abhorrence and hatred replace love and appreciation for the poor, and concomitantly, disdain and scorn replace compassion and charity for the rich.

Leaves of history attest to the gradual deterioration of civilizations that have opted to divide themselves into conflicting classes. Their initial happiness, a fruit of uncompromising discipline, has always been, more or less, short-lived, a prelude to their swift exit from the world stage, under the debris of their own civilization, as they have paid the ultimate price for their social injustices.

By pronouncing, “Zakat is the bridge of Islam”, the Noble Messenger amplified the importance of zakat in abolishing economic gaps between members of society. Zakat is a bridge used for passing over economic strife and when the whole community makes use of this bridge, class conflicts have the potential to become part of history. This bridge also constructs a stable middle class through which increasingly more recipients of zakat can become its donors and a possible clash between the rich and the poor is prevented.

ZAKAT STRENGTHENS THE MIDDLE CLASS

By the prevention of the polarization of society, Islam envisages the construction of a strong middle class.  In providing an opportunity for the unemployed to embark on new business ventures, zakat gains them back into society, stronger than ever, instead of deserting them to become burdens of the community. The strengthening of the middle class in Islam is not encouraged just through zakat and sadaqa; in actuality, there are more precepts pertaining to this issue. For instance, when dividing booty or the spoils of war among members of society, God declares:

That which God gives as spoil to His Messenger from the people of the townships, it is for God and His Messenger (for the State) and for the near of kin, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer so it will not become the property of the rich among you. (Hashr 59:7)

The circulation of capital solely in the hands of the rich inevitably leads to them becoming richer at the expense of the poor, who then become even more stricken. In actual fact, wealth has been created for the benefit of the whole of humanity, indiscriminately. In societies where individuals are deprived and usurped of the wealth bestowed by God, the existence of social classes is tolerated and the scorn of the rich towards the poor is sustained, riches never bring true happiness; on the contrary, financial resource easily becomes a profound source of conflict, even within families and close-knit groups. Additionally, in such societies, the poor remain in perennial anxiety in regards to attaining their sustenance whereas the rich foster similar anxiety pertaining to the security of their wealth. The resort to dangerous alternatives can thus evolve into an option for the poor, a plight we have been so used to witnessing around the world. In contrast, zakat eliminates all of the illegitimate options, graciously providing the poor with an ethical way out of their strife—exhaling into the community a fresh breath of life.

ZAKAT CURES SOCIAL DISEASES

The prime hindrance of the formation of a harmonious atmosphere within societies is the existence of social classes based on wealth. It is self-evident that it is an impossibility for the poor to nurture the love for the rich in a society where they are turned a blind eye on. As prevalent experience has shown, such a society is destined to become a hotbed for social conflict. The following verse corroborates this proposition:

Spend generously for the cause of God, and do not cast yourselves into destruction by your own hands. And know that God loves the doers of good. (Baqara 2:195)

The embracement of self-centeredness, at the expense of abandoning an altruistic life with social awareness, would be tantamount to trotting dangerously, as brilliantly illustrated by the Qur’an. Throwing one’s self into danger is due to deserting infaq or spending in the way of God and its grave outcomes that immediately c o me to mind, including anarchy, becoming the dominant force over a society that further leads to inextricable national and international complications. This dissipative demeanor of the aristocratic class,  indubitably, remains the prime cause underlying anarchy. It is this shockingly irresponsible attitude of the rich,  who squander astronomical amounts of money to attain luxuries in an attempt to satiate their interminable carnal desires, which causes the insurgence of crude souls, leading to anarchy and eventually turning the social welfare system upside down.

Wasteful displays as such will, no doubt, whet the appetite of the poor, inculcating in them an insurmountable feeling of hatred for the rich and perhaps, an excuse to usurp their property upon the first chance given. Obstinately abiding by the notion that enormous financial gaps between individuals do not cause an implicit or explicit upheaval is simply ignoring the realities of life.

The inveterate enmity the poor have for the rich, through zakat, providentially evolves into love and respect, patching up the wounds initially caused by greed and selfishness.

By responding to hate with love, the rich will attain immense respect, and consequently, the bond of fraternity throughout society will be reinforced. Those who do not spend in the way of God impede the rights of others by depriving them of what is theirs and simultaneously, wrong themselves by evading an obligation. God, indeed, dislikes wrongdoers and following such a line of action would ultimately attract the dislike of the Creator.

“Indeed God does not wrong humankind in any way; but humankind wrong themselves” (Yunus 10:44) underlines how human’s worst enemy is, ironically, himself. Those who indulge in “self-oppression” by avoiding zakat will suffer an assault of another form of oppression. “The oppressor is the sword of God; taken revenge with and then taken revenge of” is a vital principle of social life. Thus the wealthy that are in denial of their duty with regards to alms are prone to suffering onslaughts from the poor as immediate punishment for their ignorance. The poor, given they partake in such an upheaval, are also punished in turn, as the realization of the celestial cycle enunciated by the Prophet of God. God may delay a punishment, but when His verdict is decreed, there is no turning back.

Those who furtively stockpile wealth and withhold it in fear of zakat are bound to receive an uncalculated slap in the face as their insatiable greed generates unavoidable calamities from their wealth.

By fixing the problem before it spreads, zakat forestalls the potential complications of society, establishing a firm social structure. Looking from this perspective, many current issues could be avoided if zakat is effectively utilized.

ZAKAT LIBERATES SOCIETY FROM INTEREST

Interest has come to be an essential method of exploitation for the happy minority in their quest for greater wealth. While attempting to establish a society where benevolence reigns, it is inevitable that an effective antidote is applied to extirpate interest, to its very last residue, to prevent the upsurge of many social predicaments.

God, the Almighty, has explicitly forbidden all types and forms of interest, the chief catalyst in causing the rich to become richer and the poor to become poorer—repudiating the common notion that interest increases wealth. The Qur’an, which had aimed to put end to the widespread use of interest and liberate the believers from its fetters, again, makes use of the principle of gradualness, which was discussed earlier:

That which you give in usury in order that it may increase on people’s property has no increase with God; but that which you give in charity, seeking God’s countenance, has a manifold increase. (Rum 30:39)

Though on the surface, wealth may seem to increase with interest, in actual fact, it fails to deliver prosperity which is, instead, promptly taken away by the Creator and replaced with gradual deterioration. Riba, the Arabic term for an interest, holds various meanings, almost all of which are negative, like destruction and devastation; and it also refers to something that carries with itself misfortune. A sharp comparison is made above between, on the one hand, riba or interest that bestows the wealth perennial depreciation and, on the other, sadaqa, the prime inviter of prosperity. What’s important is the actual prosperity bestowed by God on the riches, not the ostensible increase. Seeing that God has given this assurance, it is unthinkable for Him not to realize this assurance, and He will perpetually shower prosperity on wealth out of which sadaqa is given, as confirmed by a copious amount of verifications. Abandoning all forms of interest and embracing sadaqa is a key step towards realizing social justice.

Interest contributes to an apparent increase in wealth but this increase is nothing but a veil put over its eventual depreciation. The above verse, through comparison, implicitly alludes to h o w sadaqa generates a prosperous economy for society, as opposed to the overall deterioration caused by interest, in the purest sense of the word.

The Qur’an, by introducing the prohibition on interest, slowly prepared the early Muslim society for the  total acceptance  of zakat, by articulating how  the Jews, due to partaking in forbidden interest, were deprived of many things which were otherwise previously permissible:

Because of the wrong-doings of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good things which were otherwise lawful; and because they hindered many from God’s way, and of their taking usury when they were forbidden from it, and of their devouring people’s wealth by wrongful means. (Nisa 4:160-1)

O you who believe! Do not live on usury, multiplying your wealth many times over (as compound interest). Have fear of God, that perhaps you may be successful. (Al Imran 3:130)

This last revelation proved to be an unambiguous declaration, comprising serious threats for indulgers in interest:

Those who swallow usury shall rise up (from their graves) before God like the men whom Satan has bewitched and maddened by (his) touch, for they assert that usury is just like trading, although God has permitted trade and forbidden usury. He that receives an admonition from his Lord and mends his way may keep what he has already earned; his affair will be determined by God. But those that return (to usury) will be the rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide there forever. God blights usury and makes almsgiving fruitful; He does not love the impious and the guilty. Those that believe and do good works, and establish salat and pay zakat will be rewarded by their Lord; and no fear shall come upon them, neither shall they grieve. O you who believe! Have fear of God, and give up what is still due to you from usury, if you are true believers. And if you do not, then be warned of war (against you) by God and His Messenger. If you repent you may retain your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and you shall be not wronged. And if the debtor is in straitened circumstances, then grant him a postponement until a (time of) ease; but if you remit the debt as almsgiving it will be better for you if you did but know. (Baqara 2:275-80)

As stated above, God and His Messenger deem interest-oriented transactions as a reason to wage war, which in effect, means an exile from Divine Mercy for the rebellious perpetrators. By retorting, “Shall I bow to him (Adam) whom You have made of clay?” (Isra 17:61), Satan had become the first rebel through his denouncing the Divine Command. Such a  seditious demeanor, therefore, incommensurable with that of Satan’s who ultimately was branded with the curse and expelled from the Eternal Compassion of God.

[cdmagic1408]

"Mighty Mom" Detail Scout! 2.0!!! 🔎 ✨ 2️⃣

~ Advent Calendar Edition ~

* Click here for the first edition post! *

On December 22nd, Onward's Mighty Mom was found in the 2022 Disney Advent Calendar. That same day, I released a YouTube video where I read the story aloud! 📖

From flipping through it the first time last month to putting that video together, I realized...this version of Mighty Mom has EVEN MORE details! ✨ 🔍

So now I present to you: the Mighty Mom detail scout...THE SEQUEL!!

~

First things first, there’s the FRONT COVER...

May I just say it’s EPIC! Very awesome looking! 🤩

We got all three Lightfoots together! Lookin badass and ready to handle anything that comes their way! Barley lighting the path with his torch, Laurel gripping her battle ax in her amazing protective armor, and Ian clutching his staff with the Danger Detection Spell in use!

And let's not forget the dreaded Giant Spider playing (as TV Tropes calls it...) the evil overlooker in the background!

Basically, it screams quest and adventure! I LOVE IT!! ✨✨✨

~

Oh! And a BACK COVER with a PLOT TEASER!

Yep, I'd say that sums it up pretty well 😎

~

Now onto the story itself...let us start at the very end to mix things up, shall we?

The thing about the ending is...it's slightly different! Compared to the first version, which ended on the more hopeful note of oh..."let's plan our next adventure!" this version ends a bit more comically!

It's definitely implied Ian and Barley are much more scared of spiders now after being trapped by a giant one, but Laurel on the other hand has conquered her fear! Which is good cause that was like her internal conflict and everything... 😄

But...yeah...don't think this is the only time you're gonna face a giant spider, boys... (*cough* *cough* IYTM chapter 29 😉)

~

I also couldn't help but notice that Barley's love for quests and the days of yore is expanded upon here... 😏

...and there...

Now I definitely get why Barley looks so hyped when he sees that minotaur security guard...and why Ian looks a little worried...

my point? the authenticity is GOLD ❤️‍🔥

~

We've even got an expanded illustration of the mall's play area!

and boy is there a detail or two to spot on this page...

I don't know if it's just me, but that loooooooong green slide on the left looks suspiciously like Blazey... 👀 other than being long and green, it's definitely the tongue slide and the happy wild-eyed expression that sells it 🤪

Oh! and at the top of the small ball pit next to that satyr kid riding the dragon...young Ian, is that you? 😂

And speaking of that satyr kid, it's the very same kid Barley plays with in the bigger ball pit on the next page! (yes, I'm putting that picture in too cause I know how much you love Barley with kids @itsme-star) and now that I'm really looking at it, I'm thinking he wanted to give that little kid another fun ride after swinging on that dragon and if that's the case...awwwwww that's so sweet 🥺

Lastly, I get the feeling that that spider jungle gym was meant to warn our favorite elves of the dangers below...but considering how modern and harmless it looks, I don't blame em for not taking that into consideration lol

~

This was the first illustration that gave me the impression that there was more to this story than what we saw back in April...

I'll say the debris falling definitely adds urgency to the situation of the tavern needs to fixed and put back to its former glory 😅

But also...

The three of them high-fiving is sooooooo adorable! I already thought they looked great in those construction hats and goggles, but this is serotonin if I ever saw it! 😍

~

And last but certainly not least...this book was in the advent calendar's day 22 slot!

I would like to give credit to our fellow QM, @aloftmelevar who has cleverly pointed out a couple times—this time being no exception—that Onward is the 22nd film in Pixar's movie library!

Whether putting this story in day 22 for that reason was done on purpose...who knows? 🤔 But I personally would like to believe that it was!

~

In the end, now all I can think about is this: both versions of the story have different adjustments to the scale of the illustrations that we see, so there has to be full scale artworks of all of them, right?! 😲

Where those would be...I have no clue...

Guess after finding this advent calendar, that's my next Onward treasure hunt! 😉 😉

So anyway, there you have it, Quest Masters! The second detail scout of Mighty Mom!

We'll have to see if a third detail scout comes to pass if there's a potential third version of the story out there somewhere, but as I said in my last Mighty Mom detail scout post, I hope we get lots more Onward short stories featuring our beloved elf bois for years to come! In advent calendars, short story collections, step-into-readings, whatever the case may be, I WILL READ IT!

But for right now, I can honestly say that I like the Mighty Mom story even more now than I did on the day we discovered it! It's like the more you read into the details and piece together the context clues, the more fascinating and enjoyable media ends up being as a whole! 💖 I've found that with Onward itself, and now that I see that in this story too, there's no doubt I'll find it in any Onward story 😊

[woefully-undercaffeinated]

I didn't become an engineer the traditional way; rather than getting an engineering degree, doing internships, and then going straight into engineering work after college, I was forced to leave school early and study on my own while working as a cook, a customer service rep, an oilfield laborer, and an aircraft electrician. So as an engineer, I do my best to ensure that I don't segregate myself from the technicians, assemblers, cleaners, inventory stockers, and clerical staff. I try to be available to them as much as possible, help them when they're struggling, and stand up for them when another engineer or a manager is bullying them.

My client has been... demanding. They wanted the assembly plant on our campus to be operational *right away*, and so required the production company contracting with them to hire urgently and relocate workers from other states and other countries in order to work in a building that wasn't even half-finished -- it took six months for working bathrooms to be installed, the first three months were spent working in tents to prevent the dust and debris of the active construction zone from contaminating the prototypes we were working on, there was constant loud noise everywhere in the workplace, there were so few chairs that I caught people sitting on hazmat bins, and work space was limited so badly that stepping away from a workbench for a moment resulted in all of your work items being packed up and put away. There were sudden and unacceptable security policy changes enacted, such as the day we discovered that a personal search was a condition of exit from the production floor, or the month and a half we spent with no phone or chat access and no way for someone to reach us in an emergency. The production schedule was so ambitious that I and a good portion of the production staff frequently worked sixty- and seventy-hour weeks throughout the summer and fall, but despite the constant supply quality issues and conflicting directives we managed to stay on top and even get ahead of the schedule. Anyone who says "no-one wants to work anymore" needs to be dragged to my facility and shown just how much these men and women are willing to put up with for their job.

This morning, I came into my job to discover that all of the production staff in my workplace had been notified that the assembly plant is being shut down this spring. They'll spend the next few weeks wondering if they'll be required to relocate to another state or country to keep their jobs or simply let go, and then spend the rest of their holiday season dealing with the ramifications of that decision. And there's nothing I can do other than share pro-labor songs -- my NDA means I'm not even allowed to say who the client is.

But if any Dickensian spirits are looking for a Scrooge, I know of a few boardrooms that could use a visit.

[briansgermanlitblog]

Reflections on a Year of Reading German Literature

Titles Read:

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Refugee - Alan Grantz

The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank

These books are from different countries and different time periods, but they all have a common thread of highlighting the resilience of the human spirit in times of adversity. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is set in Nazi Germany during World War II and follows the life of a young girl named Liesel, who finds solace in books during the darkest moments of her life.It’s setting is in Germany in the beginning when the Nazi is taking power. It portrays the power of literature and storytelling to provide hope and a sense of humanity in times of war and oppression, in Liesel's case while being a non jew she sees the events caused by Hitler first hand, it’s oppression and discrimination against Jews. The unnecessary violence, the construction of concentration camps, and forced relocation of Jews all taking place in the 1900s and through these hardships people managed to persist and survive using hope and family and friends (theme).

Refugee by Alan Grantz is a fiction novel 3 stories each based on a refugee child each from 3 countries - Syria, Nazi Germany, and Cuba. It shows the bravery and persistence of each refugee in their pursuit of a better freer, and life, despite the many struggles and dangers they go against. Joseph a Jew from the Nazi Germany story, experienced tragic losses with separation and death. Joseph and his family dreamt of an end of running and hiding while triumphing over many obstacles still dies at the end. Sacrificing himself and his mother to save Joseph’s sister Ruthie from the concentration camps. After both the mother and Joseph die in the concentration camp. Signifying the theme throughout the Nazi’s era and its stories caused a lot more deaths than dreams coming true and everyone surviving.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is a first hand experience of an adolescent Jewish girl's life in hiding during the Nazi rise to power of the Netherlands and Germany. It provides an introduction and story into the daily struggles and hopes of a young girl facing discrimination and forced to hide from the world - specifically the Nazi’s. Also highlights the importance of family, friends and a positive attitude towards the conflict. However Anne Frank was unable to survive World War II and Hitler’s reign even after all the safety precautions taken to avoid relocation to a concentration camp and death she couldn’t survive. Showing that the theme is life doesn’t always go your way

From these 3 books I read over the last 20 weeks, I learned that humanity can prevail even the darkest moments in history. These books show that hope, resilience, bravery, and a belief in a better future are essential to overcoming impossible situations that seem scarce in survival. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak you’re able to see the bond she makes in her new family when they open up and comfort Liesel during these tough times, like when Mr. Hubermann comforts Liesel commonly at night when she has a nightmare. Also, Refugee by Alan Grantz in Joseph’s story, Joseph in such a dark and dangerous moment in history that he bravely sacrificed himself so his sister would be spared, showing the resilience and courage Joseph had to save his sister like a highly responsible big brother. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, I remember while hiding in the annex from the Nazi’s, debris, and the missiles they persevered through hope, and resilience together as if by blood. They experienced tough times like being supplied with less rations and near caught experiences with the Nazi’s.

After these 20 weeks of Independent Reading I’ve learned more about myself concerning books and more about time management. For starters I’ve read business and personal finance books on the side before Independent Reading to become more financially literate. After reading more storytelling stories both nonfiction and fiction I’ve learned that I preferred reading finance books. Mainly because of the useful knowledge you gain about your future but also because the stories related to Germany are usually boring. In general I find books and reading boring. I’ve given it my best try and with an open mind but it never clicked with me. This Independent Reading assignment feels more like a chore than an actual thing I look forward to doing. On the other hand, while it feels like a chore I was able to adapt to my busy schedule and continue to read 10 pages everyday right after school and had time to go to work after.

[neanderthalfunerary]

Build-A-Burial: An Inventory of Neanderthal Funerary Sites (November 4, 2022)

An illustration of the Neanderthals at Shanidar Cave (Smithsonian Human Origins Program).

Each Neanderthal site found with evidence to suggest intentional mortuary practices is subject to thorough academic scrutiny in its designation as a burial grounds. These discussions are held on both a case-by-case basis and towards the species as whole. [1]

Museum reconstruction of the Neanderthal burial at La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France (Mourre, 2017).

[2] [3] In questioning whether or not we can say that Neanderthals had the capacity for cognitive processes and social organization that would motivate ritualistic behavior, there is much debate within the anthropological field as to the indications that a specimen can be said to represent:

A deliberate interment, perhaps

Alongside other intentional burials

In some meaningful position/orientation;

The characteristics of which [4] influenced by social frameworks, such as:

Age or sex

Community role (e.g., as a 'shaman' figure [5])

Status or prestige

Emotional constructs (e.g., care, compassion, grief)

With associated grave goods

Potentially chosen based on symbolic meaning (tied to any of the above elements) [6]

Not the result of external disturbances (from local fauna or natural elements)

Thus, the following is a synthesis of mortuary features, supplemented by the evidence found at iconic sites. [7]

Each category includes both specific artifacts found at sites determined to be burials, as well as general implements from the repertoire of Neanderthal material culture.

Of course, I must preface with the usual disclaimer that all sites labeled as 'intentional burials' are not definitively so, but rather based upon analysis by many researchers (and likely contested by just as many).

Context

Layout of the La Ferrassie site and specimens (Pettit, 2002).

Site Organization

Temporal variation (seasonal occupations, at different stratigraphic layers by different populations)

Cohabitation (with other hominin species)

As one section of a multipurpose site

Surrounding Situ

Hearths (charcoal, ash, animal remains)

Tool processing (lithic debris)

Butchering and animal processing (animal remains, lithic debris)

'Campsite' shelters (fiber 'bedding', stone circle structures)

Other Specimens

Other deliberate interments [8]

Individuals not intentionally buried (died as a result of natural disasters, conflict) or corpse 'dumping zones'

Condition:

Labeled photographs of Shanidar remains in situ (Barker, 2015).

Primary burial

Secondary (later additions to the same burial 'plot')

Articulated (anatomical manipulation/positioning)

Spatially oriented (in relation to cardinal directions or other burials)

De-fleshed (cannibalism?) [9]

Bodily trauma (interpersonal violence?)

Healed wounds (caregiving?)

Grave goods

The Qafzeh 11 burial: an adolescent with a portion of the skull from a large deer laid upon its upper body (Neuville, 1933).

Animal remains

Ibex horns (Teshik-Tash)

Red deer maxilla bone (Amud 7)

Mammal jawbone (Shanidar II & V)

Pierced eagle talons (mythos?)

An example of potential Neanderthal ‘art’: a carved deer bone found at Einhornhöhle, Germany (Minkus).

Implements and ornamentation

Mousterian flake-based lithics

Organic material tools (bone, wood)

Carved figures (stone, bone, wood)

Marine shells (stacked, pierced)

Red ochre [10]

Flowers? (Shanidar IV) [11]

Sample Sites

Amud cave excavation (Garrett).

Krapina cave, Croatia (first excavated/discovered 1899)

La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France (1908)

La Ferrassie, France (1909)

Qafzeh cave, Israel (1929)

Teshik-Tash, Uzbekistan (1938)

Shanidar cave, Iraq (1957)

Amud cave, Israel (1961)

----- References & Further Reading -----

[1] Overview of human burial practices

Pettitt, Paul. “Landscapes of the dead: the evolution of human mortuary activity from body to place in palaeolithic Europe.” Settlement, Society and Cognition in Human Evolution, January 26, 2015, 258–74. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139208697.015.‌

[2] Analysis of Neanderthal burial sites and features

Koutamanis, Dafne. “The Place of the Neanderthal Dead: Multiple Burial Sites and Mortuary Space in the Middle Palaeolithic of Eurasia.” 2012. https://studenttheses.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2661542/view.‌

[3] Neanderthal burials in the fossil record

Emery, Kate Meyers. “Neanderthal Burials.” Bones Don’t Lie, April 26, 2011. https://bonesdontlie.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/neanderthal-burials/.‌

[4] Variability in Neanderthal burial site features

Pettitt, Paul. “The Neanderthal Dead: Exploring Mortuary Variability in Middle Palaeolithic Eurasia.” Before Farming 4 (January 2002): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3828/bfarm.2002.1.4.‌

[5] A potential case of animal-based spirituality in Neanderthals

Morton, Glenn. “Origins: The Shaman’s Cape-Religion among the Neanderthals.” www2.asa3.org, December 16, 1996. http://www2.asa3.org/archive/asa/199612/0102.html.‌

[6] Neanderthal symbolic and ritualistic thought

Nielsen, Mark, Michelle C. Langley, Ceri Shipton, and Rohan Kapitány. “Homo Neanderthalensis and the Evolutionary Origins of Ritual in Homo Sapiens.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 375, no. 1805 (June 29, 2020): 20190424. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0424.‌

[7] Critical analysis of Neanderthal intentional burials

Gargett, Robert H., Harvey M. Bricker, Geoffrey Clark, John Lindly, Catherine Farizy, Claude Masset, David W. Frayer, et al. “Grave Shortcomings: The Evidence for Neandertal Burial [and Comments and Reply].” Current Anthropology 30, no. 2 (1989): 157–90. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2743544?seq=10#metadata_info_tab_contents.‌

[8] Multi-burial Neanderthal sites

Whelan, Ed. “New Evidence Ends the Neanderthal Burial Debate.” www.ancient-origins.net, December 11, 2020. https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/neanderthal-death-rites-0013303.‌

[9] Intersections between cannibalism and mortuary practices in Neanderthals

www.neandertals.org. “Burial, Ritual, Religion, and Cannibalism,” n.d. https://www.neandertals.org/ritual.html.‌

[10] Red ochre in Neanderthal burial sites

Roebroeks, W., M. J. Sier, T. K. Nielsen, D. De Loecker, J. M. Pares, C. E. S. Arps, and H. J. Mucher. “Use of Red Ochre by Early Neandertals.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109, no. 6 (January 23, 2012): 1889–94. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1112261109.‌

[11] Shanidar IV Neanderthal 'flower burial'

Solecki, R. S. “Shanidar IV, a Neanderthal Flower Burial in Northern Iraq.” Science 190, no. 4217 (November 28, 1975): 880–81. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.190.4217.880.‌

----- Selected Sites -----

Krapina cave

Russell, Mary D. “Mortuary Practices at the Krapina Neandertal Site.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 72, no. 3 (March 1987): 381–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330720311.‌

La Chapelle-aux-Saints

Rendu, W., C. Beauval, I. Crevecoeur, P. Bayle, A. Balzeau, T. Bismuth, L. Bourguignon, et al. “Evidence Supporting an Intentional Neandertal Burial at La Chapelle-Aux-Saints.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111, no. 1 (December 16, 2013): 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1316780110.‌

La Ferrassie

Balzeau, Antoine, Alain Turq, Sahra Talamo, Camille Daujeard, Guillaume Guérin, Frido Welker, Isabelle Crevecoeur, et al. “Pluridisciplinary Evidence for Burial for the La Ferrassie 8 Neandertal Child.” Scientific Reports 10, no. 1 (December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77611-z.‌

Quafzeh cave

Vandermeersch, Bernard, and Ofer Bar-Yosef. “The Paleolithic Burials at Qafzeh Cave, Israel.” Paléo 30, no. 1 (December 30, 2019): 256–75. https://doi.org/10.4000/paleo.4848.‌

Teshik-Tash

Wikipedia. “Teshik-Tash 1,” April 30, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teshik-Tash_1.‌

Shanidar cave

Pomeroy, Emma, Paul Bennett, Chris O. Hunt, Tim Reynolds, Lucy Farr, Marine Frouin, James Holman, Ross Lane, Charles French, and Graeme Barker. “New Neanderthal Remains Associated with the ‘Flower Burial’ at Shanidar Cave.” Antiquity 94, no. 373 (February 2020): 11–26. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2019.207.‌

Amud cave

Hovers, Erella, Yoel Rak, Ron Lavi, and William H. Kimbel. “Hominid Remains from Amud Cave in the Context of the Levantine Middle Paleolithic.” Paléorient 21, no. 2 (1995): 47–61. https://href.li/?https://www.jstor.org/stable/41492632#metadata_info_tab_contents.‌

[edward-l-angel]

Forging the Future: The Role of Military Engineers in the U.S. Air Force

Military engineering within the U.S. Air Force represents a powerful combination of innovation, technical expertise, and resilience. From constructing critical infrastructure to developing new technologies that support airpower, the U.S. Air Force’s engineers have played a pivotal role in shaping military operations around the world. Over the years, their contributions have expanded beyond airfields to include disaster response, space exploration, and the development of sustainable solutions for future challenges. This article explores the history, innovations, and ongoing contributions of U.S. Air Force engineers in building the military’s future.

The Evolution of Air Force Engineering

The roots of U.S. Air Force engineering stretch back to the early days of aviation during World War I. However, the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch in 1947 marked the beginning of a specialized focus on airfield construction, base infrastructure, and airpower support. From the early years, military engineers demonstrated their ability to work in austere environments, building and maintaining essential infrastructure under extreme conditions.

During World War II, military engineers were responsible for building the airstrips and bases that would serve as the backbone of Allied air operations. The ability to establish operational airfields in remote or hostile locations was crucial to the success of air missions in both the European and Pacific theaters. Engineers not only built airfields but also maintained them under challenging conditions, repairing damage from enemy attacks and ensuring that air operations continued uninterrupted.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Corps: Supporting Global Operations

The Air Force Civil Engineer (CE) Corps is one of the most critical components of military engineering within the U.S. Air Force. These engineers are responsible for everything from designing and constructing air bases to maintaining vital infrastructure such as water, power, and sewage systems. Their role is essential in both combat and peacetime operations, ensuring that Air Force personnel have the facilities and resources necessary to complete their missions.

Civil engineers also play a crucial role in humanitarian and disaster relief operations. When natural disasters strike, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or tsunamis, Air Force engineers are often deployed to assist with rebuilding efforts. They provide essential services such as restoring power, removing debris, and repairing damaged infrastructure. This dual role in combat and humanitarian missions highlights the versatility and importance of Air Force engineers in global operations.

Red Horse and Prime BEEF: Rapid Response Units

Red Horse units are known for their ability to build airfields, roads, and bridges in combat zones or disaster-stricken areas. Their expertise in heavy construction allows the U.S. Air Force to establish forward operating bases or repair damaged infrastructure quickly. Red Horse engineers have been deployed in a wide range of conflicts, from the Vietnam War to more recent operations in the Middle East. Their ability to work in challenging environments under tight timelines makes them one of the most respected engineering forces within the military.

Building for the Future: Sustainability and Resilience

As the challenges of modern warfare evolve, so too do the demands on military engineers. One of the critical areas where Air Force engineers are leading the way is in building more sustainable and resilient infrastructure. With climate change increasing the frequency of natural disasters, military bases must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, floods, and heat waves.

Air Force engineers are at the forefront of designing and constructing bases that can operate under these conditions. By using modern materials and incorporating innovative construction techniques, they are creating facilities that can resist the effects of natural disasters while continuing to provide essential services. This focus on resilience is critical to maintaining the U.S. Air Force’s global readiness.

Space Operations: The Next Frontier for Air Force Engineers

As the U.S. military expands its operations into space, Air Force engineers are taking on new challenges in building and maintaining the infrastructure needed for space missions. Engineers are responsible for constructing ground stations, launch facilities, and satellite communication networks that support both military and civilian space operations.

In addition to supporting current space missions, Air Force engineers are developing future technologies that will enable long-term space exploration. This includes the construction of spaceports, habitats for long-duration missions, and infrastructure for future Moon and Mars exploration. Military engineers are also exploring the potential for new materials and technologies that can withstand the unique challenges of space environments.

Training and Education: Preparing Future Engineers

The legacy of military engineering within the U.S. Air Force is one of innovation, adaptability, and resilience. From building critical infrastructure during World War II to leading the charge in sustainable military base construction and space exploration, U.S. Air Force engineers have continuously evolved to meet the demands of modern warfare. As the military faces new challenges in the 21st century, the contributions of its engineers will remain indispensable. Through their technical expertise, dedication, and forward-thinking approach, Air Force engineers are ensuring that the military remains prepared for whatever the future holds.

[dragon-age-codex-entries]

Codex entry: Siege Equipment in Thedas

"Siege weaponry has been used in Thedas for centuries, with primitive equipment used as far back as the Third Blight. Nevertheless, it occupies a peculiar niche in the tools of warfare due to its requirements. Any army wishing to produce trebuchets or catapults must be funded and organized well enough to procure both the necessary materials and the military experts to construct them. Throughout history, most armies who fulfilled such requirements did not take advantage of such situation. During the Third Blight, for example, Arlesans and Montsimmard constructed catapults to fling flaming debris at the darkspawn, but the expense of the weapons did not justify the limited damage they caused, and the darkspawn were ultimately driven back by the Grey Wardens, not siege weaponry.

Tevinter forces similarly had the resources to construct siege weapons when attacking the Free Marchers or defending themselves against the Exalted Marches of the Black Age. Instead, the Imperium focused primarily upon the power of its magisters, who were less powerful but more flexible than siege equipment, and who could more easily fall back when the tide of battle turned.

As a result, in the battles against the Qunari in the Steel Age, generals found to their chagrin that the great oxmen had left them behind. Qunari blackpowder is, most military experts agree, not magic—it is merely an advanced alchemy that makes their cannons more effective than any trebuchet could ever be.

Nevertheless, there remains hope. As centuries have passed since the last Blight, and mages are now safely held in the Circles where they harm none, the experts of Ferelden and Orlais may once again turn their great minds to learning. We need no magic, not where the minds of men survive unfettered. With our resources and commitment to knowledge, we can easily surpass the brutal Qunari on the field of battle."

—From Qun, Gurns and Steel: Military Conflict in a Post-Blight Thedas, written 9:29 Dragon, shortly before the start of the Fifth Blight

[dwightworker]

The Ultimate Guide to Efficient Floor Removal in Sydney

Removing old flooring can be a challenging task, especially in a bustling city like Sydney, where time and space are often at a premium. Whether you’re renovating a home or upgrading a commercial space, understanding the nuances of floor removal is crucial. This guide covers essential tips and unique considerations for those embarking on a floor removal in Sydney.

Understanding Sydney’s Flooring Trends and Challenges

Sydney is known for its diverse architectural styles, from classic Victorian homes to modern apartments. This diversity often means a variety of flooring materials, including hardwood, laminate, tiles, and carpets. Each type of flooring presents unique challenges in removal, necessitating a tailored approach to avoid damage to the underlying structure.

Permits and Regulations in Sydney

Unlike many other cities, Sydney has specific regulations regarding waste disposal, particularly when it comes to construction and renovation debris. Before starting your floor removal project, it’s essential to check with the local council about any required permits, especially if you need to dispose of large amounts of material. Proper adherence to these regulations ensures a smooth process and avoids potential fines.

Hiring Professional Floor Removal Services in Sydney

While DIY projects are popular, the intricacies of floor removal, particularly in older Sydney homes, often require professional intervention. Hiring local experts who understand the specific challenges of Sydney’s housing can save time and reduce the risk of structural damage. Professional services also have access to specialised equipment that makes the removal process faster and safer.

Managing Noise and Disruption

Given Sydney’s dense urban environment, managing noise and disruption during floor removal is crucial. Early communication with neighbors and adherence to local noise regulations can prevent conflicts. Additionally, scheduling work during less disruptive times, such as mid-morning on weekdays, can minimise the impact on those around you.

Sustainability Considerations

Sydney’s growing focus on sustainability has led to increased interest in eco-friendly renovation practices. When removing old flooring, consider recycling or repurposing materials whenever possible. Many companies in Sydney specialise in the disposal of construction waste, ensuring that your project minimises its environmental impact.

Dealing with Unexpected Surprises

Older properties in Sydney often come with hidden surprises beneath the flooring, such as asbestos or structural damage. It’s essential to conduct a thorough inspection before starting the removal process. If asbestos is found, specialised removal services are required to handle the material safely, as it poses significant health risks.

Post-Removal Restoration and Preparation

After the old flooring is removed, the subfloor needs to be inspected and prepared for the new material. Sydney’s humid climate can affect subfloor conditions, particularly in homes near the coast. Proper moisture testing and treatment are necessary to ensure the longevity of the new flooring. In some cases, additional work may be required to level the subfloor, particularly in older properties where foundations have shifted over time.

Floor removal in Sydney requires careful planning, consideration of local regulations, and a proactive approach to potential challenges. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and successful floor removal process, paving the way for your new flooring installation.

[llaksj]

What You Need to Know About Vacuum Excavation Hire

Vacuum excavation has become a pivotal technology in the construction and utility industries. This advanced method, often referred to as hydro excavation, offers a highly effective means of digging and exposing underground utilities without the risks associated with traditional excavation techniques. Whether you’re involved in a large-scale construction project or a smaller maintenance task, understanding vacuum excavation hire can provide significant benefits for your project’s efficiency and safety.

What is Vacuum Excavation?

Vacuum excavation is a non-destructive digging method that uses a combination of high-pressure water jets and powerful vacuum systems to excavate soil. The process involves spraying water to loosen the soil and then using a vacuum to remove the slurry of water and soil. This method allows for precise digging and exposes underground utilities, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure without the need for traditional digging methods.

Why Consider Vacuum Excavation Hire?

Minimized Risk to Underground Utilities One of the primary advantages of vacuum excavation is its ability to expose and locate underground utilities with minimal risk. Traditional excavation methods, such as digging with a backhoe, can inadvertently damage buried pipes or cables, leading to costly repairs and project delays. Vacuum excavation, on the other hand, is designed to carefully and accurately remove soil, reducing the chance of accidental damage.

Increased Safety Safety is paramount in any excavation project. Vacuum excavation enhances safety by reducing the amount of manual labor required and minimizing the risk of accidents associated with traditional excavation methods. The controlled and precise nature of vacuum excavation allows operators to work more safely, especially in areas with complex underground networks.

Improved Accuracy and Efficiency Vacuum excavation offers a high level of accuracy, allowing for detailed mapping of underground utilities. This precision can be crucial for avoiding potential conflicts with existing infrastructure and planning future projects. Additionally, the efficiency of vacuum excavation can lead to faster project completion times compared to traditional methods.

Reduced Environmental Impact Traditional excavation methods often result in significant disruption to the surrounding environment, including damage to vegetation and soil erosion. Vacuum excavation minimizes environmental impact by using water to loosen soil, which reduces the amount of dust and debris created during the excavation process. The technology also generates less noise pollution compared to conventional digging equipment.

Applications of Vacuum Excavation

Utility Location and Exposure Accurate utility location is essential for avoiding damage during excavation projects. Vacuum excavation is widely used for locating and exposing utilities such as gas lines, water mains, and electrical cables. By safely uncovering these utilities, vacuum excavation helps ensure that subsequent construction or maintenance work can be carried out without incident.

Potholing and Test Digging Potholing, or test digging, is a method used to confirm the location of underground utilities. Vacuum excavation is ideal for this application, as it provides a precise means of digging small holes to verify utility locations without causing disruption to the surrounding area.

Trenching and Excavation For projects that require trenching or larger excavation work, vacuum excavation can be used to create clean, accurate trenches. This method is particularly useful in areas where precision is critical, such as around existing infrastructure or in congested urban environments.

Environmental and Site Remediation In environmental and site remediation projects, vacuum excavation can be employed to remove contaminated soil or debris with minimal impact on the surrounding area. The technology’s ability to precisely control excavation depth and area makes it suitable for addressing contamination issues while preserving site integrity.

Considerations When Hiring Vacuum Excavation Equipment

Project Requirements Before hiring vacuum excavation equipment, it is crucial to assess the specific needs of your project. Consider factors such as the type of soil, the depth and size of the excavation, and the presence of underground utilities. Understanding these requirements will help determine the appropriate equipment and ensure that the vacuum excavation hire aligns with your project goals.

Hiring Costs The cost of vacuum excavation hire can vary based on factors such as equipment size, rental duration, and the complexity of the project. It’s important to obtain detailed quotes from rental providers and compare costs to ensure that you are getting value for your investment. Additionally, consider the potential cost savings in terms of reduced labor, minimized damage, and faster project completion.

Operator Experience Proper operation of vacuum excavation equipment requires trained and experienced personnel. When hiring vacuum excavation services, ensure that the operators are skilled and knowledgeable in using the equipment. Their expertise will contribute to the efficiency and safety of the excavation process.

Equipment Maintenance Regular maintenance of vacuum excavation equipment is essential for ensuring optimal performance and reliability. When hiring equipment, inquire about the maintenance practices and inspection procedures followed by the rental provider. Well-maintained equipment is less likely to experience breakdowns or malfunctions during your project.

Conclusion

Vacuum excavation hire offers a modern and effective solution for a wide range of excavation needs. By providing precise, safe, and efficient excavation capabilities, this technology can greatly enhance the success of your construction or maintenance project. From minimizing risks to underground utilities to reducing environmental impact, the benefits of vacuum excavation are clear. When considering vacuum excavation hire, it is important to evaluate your project requirements, budget, and the experience of operators to ensure a successful and smooth excavation process. Embracing this advanced technology can lead to more accurate results and a safer work environment, making it a valuable choice for your next excavation project.

[reedreadsgreek]

1 Corinthians 3, Reed's Version

But sadly, dear brothers and sisters, I couldn’t address you on spiritual terms because you were worldly-minded, mere babies in the faith. I had to give you milk, not meat. And in fact you’re still worldly-minded. I mean, isn’t the jealously and conflict between you proof that you’re still behaving on a purely human level? You see, when one of you says, “I follow Paul!” while another says, “I’m on team Apollos!”, don’t you see that this is secular behavior? What is Apollos? What is Paul? Nothing more than servants, to each of whom the lord granted the privilege of leading you to faith. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but all along it was God bringing the growth. And so the laborers who plant and water don’t deserve acclaim, but only God who brings the growth. The planter and waterer are on the same team, responsible only to God who will evaluate each of our work. Apollos and I are working together for God’s purposes, while you are the garden, the construction project where God’s purposes are being brought to fruition. 

And given this responsibility that God entrusted to me, I laid the foundation like a skilled engineer, leaving it for someone else to build on from there. But each builder must take care not to build on any foundation other than the one already in place, that is, Jesus Christ. So whether a worker builds with fine materials, precious metals and stonework, or with sticks, hay and straw, the work will be shown for what it is. On the last day it all will be exposed, because the refining fire will burn away the debris and show the real quality of each builder’s work. If what has been built survives the fire, the builder will get a reward. But if it burns up, they will lose it. Such a Christian minister may still be saved, but with nothing to show for it, so to speak. The “building” I’m talking about is God’s sacred temple — which is you! You are, corporately, God’s temple where His Spirit lives. So anyone who actually causes destruction to the building will be destroyed by God.

Stop deceiving yourselves. You who think yourselves wise in the world’s eyes must embrace God’s “nonsense” in order to ever know true wisdom. This world’s wisdom is what’s really nonsense in God’s eyes. It’s like scripture says, “God ensnares the wise by their own schemes,” and, “The Lord sees how empty are the thoughts of those who think they are wise.” 

So stop clinging to human leaders. You are heirs of the whole estate! You don’t belong to Paul, Apollos or Peter; we belong to you! The whole world — both present and future, even life and death — it all belongs to you, while you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

[blueweave8]

Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market Industry Trends, Analysis, Report 2023-2030

BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market size at USD 483.16 million in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, BlueWeave expects the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market size to expand at a CAGR of 6.18% reaching a value of USD 689.12 million by 2030. Growing geopolitical tensions between countries, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and growing demand from a variety of end users, including military, commercial, and residential sectors, are key growth factors for the Europe bomb shelter and fallout shelter markets.

Opportunity – Increasing Demand for Bomb & Fallout Shelters in Modern Houses

Many homeowners are now demanding or investing in the building of bomb and fallout shelters in their modern houses. Various factors are influencing this demand, such as terrorism, civil unrest, nuclear threats, and natural disasters. Modern residences may not always require a bomb shelter, but there are still situations in which building owners may decide to include one for extra security and safety. With the expanding residential sector and increasing demand for housing in Europe, the market for bomb shelters and fallout shelters is projected to rise, driving the overall market growth.

Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions on Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market

The escalating geopolitical tensions are boosting the growth of the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market. Russia’s invasion in Ukraine prompted many European countries to redirect their attention to the presence and building of bomb and fallout shelters in their respective countries as a precaution to potential military occupation or nuclear attack. The European Union and the European Investment Bank renovated a new bomb shelter in Kyiv within the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, in partnership with the Kyiv City State Administration and with the technical support of the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine. In another instance, Finland recounted the presence of bomb shelters due to the possibility of conflict with Russia. This Nordic country currently has 50,500 bomb shelters as a result of a law that mandates the construction of emergency shelters under apartment blocks and office buildings, as reported by Reuters.

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Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market

Segmental Coverage

Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market – By Type

Based on type, the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market is segmented into bomb shelter and fallout shelter. The bomb shelter holds a larger share in the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market. Bomb shelters protect a wider range of threats, such as blast effects, fire, or even in the event of a nuclear disaster or attack. However, fallout shelters are made to protect from radiation only and radioactive debris and fallout.

Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market – By Country

The in-depth research report on the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market covers several country-specific markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Poland, and the rest of Europe. Switzerland dominates the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market with the highest number of bomb shelters in the country. Switzerland currently has nearly 370,000 bomb shelters, as reported by Swiss Info. By the end of 2022, Switzerland had over 9.3 million spaces in about 370,000 shelters, including 9,000 public bunkers, for about 8.7 million people, according to the Federal Office for Civil Protection.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the Europe Bomb Shelter and Fallout Shelter Market include Minus Energie, Artemis Protection, Atlas Survival Shelters, Nuclear Bunker Company, Gossberg, Bunker Swiss Sarl, Rising S Bunkers, Oppidum Bunkers, and Vivos Shelter.

To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

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[ancientcosmicsecrets]

The Sphinx And Its Mysteries

The Sphinx

The Great Sphinx of Giza is situated on the Giza Plateau adjacent to the Great Pyramids on the west bank of the Nile River and faces east. The construction date is unknown; some say it dates back to between 2600 and 2500 BCE. Here are some of the 20th-century geologists who claimed evidence of water erosion in and around the Sphinx enclosure, which would prove that the Sphinx predates Khafra at around 10000 to 5000 BCE.

Some believe there are, in fact, many secrets beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza, namely the Hall of Records, a library entirely of hidden information.

The Hall of Records

The Hall of Records houses documents, scrolls, and other materials with information regarding the lost continent of Atlantis and extraterrestrials. Some believe the hall replicates works from the lost Library of Alexandria. The discovery of the Hall of Records would significantly affect our understanding of world history, precisely the origin of Ancient Egyptian civilizations.

The existence of such an underground library was referenced by Herodotus, who said in Histories'', Book II, 148:

"This I have seen, a work beyond words. For if anyone put together the buildings of the Greeks and display of their labors, they would seem lesser in both effort and expense to this labyrinth … Even the pyramids are beyond words, and each was equal to many and mighty works of the Greeks. Yet the labyrinth surpasses even the pyramids."

Roswell and hieroglyphs

Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs include simple " pictorial glyphs" and strange flying machines and humanoid beings. Fewer people know that the same hieroglyphs have also appeared on modern-day unidentified flying objects.

The 1947 Roswell UFO crash and the 1980 Rendlesham UFO Incident are associated with hieroglyphs similar to those in Ancient Egypt. The grandchildren of Major General Jesse Marcel, the man who oversaw the cleanup of the debris from the 1947 crash, shared riveting new details about the event. One of those details was that geometric symbols appeared on the Roswell crash debris, including a triangle with a sphere on top.

Similar symbols have appeared in Roswell, modern-day crop circles, and alien abduction accounts. The "sacred geometry" theory holds that the universe (or God) has a geometric code or language.

Mars

Science is now showing that Mars wasn'twasn't always and isn'tisn't the dry, red, arid planet we've all been told it is; this theory was amplified recently by a team of Italian scientists, who are telling the world that they have strong evidence of a subsurface lake of liquid water on Mars.

The more we observe Mars, the more information we get that it is a fascinating planet. From the Curiosity Rover, we now know that Mars once was a planet very much like Earth, with long salty seas, freshwater lakes, probably snow-capped peaks, clouds, and a water cycle just like we're studying here on Earth…Something has happened to Mars; it lost its waster—Grunsfeld.

In 2015, NASA held a press conference to announce the significant discovery that Mars experienced a massive climate shift and used to be very Earth-like, covered in oceans and greenery. At this conference, scientists also stated that "the possibility of life in the interior of Mars has always been very high. There's certainly water somewhere in the crust of Mars.

Boriska Kipriyanovich

Boriska Kipriyanovich alleged he lived on the red planet before being reborn on Earth on an apparent mission to save humanity.

His mother is a doctor and says she knew he was unique from birth. He started speaking after a few months, and by age one, Boriska could read, draw, and paint. While in kindergarten at just two, his teachers couldn't help but notice his incredible writing, language talents, and astonishing memory skills. The boy has repeatedly claimed he was previously a Martian pilot who traveled to Earth.

He claims his race of Martians was wiped out in a nuclear conflict thousands of years ago, and he fears we are now heading in the same direction. Boriska's concerns come as our own rapidly expanding atomic weapons programs. He warns that we will face the same catastrophic fate as his people if we don't listen to his warnings. He says he is not the only child from outer space on Earth and that others like him were sent here on a specific mission to save humanity. He claims they are all reincarnations and are called "Indigo Children."

"We could travel in time and space flying in round spaceships, but we would observe life on Earth on triangular aircraft. Martian spaceships are very complicated.

He insists there is much more to be discovered on Earth, pointing to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which hides big secrets. "Human life will change when the Sphinx is opened. It has an opening mechanism behind the ear; I am trying to remember precisely, claims Boriska.

According to a University of Arizona website report, a series of expeditions took place between 1991 and 1993, led by an independent Egyptologist named John Anthony West, who conducted seismic and geological surveys around the Great Sphinx.

Their findings indicated that the Sphinx's erosion pattern suggests it was carved at the end of the last Ice Age when heavy rains fell in the eastern Sahara—more than 12,000 years ago—not 4,500, as is widely believed. Seismic surveys from their research also suggested unexplored tunnels and cavities in the bedrock beneath the Sphinx, including a large rectangular chamber 25 feet beneath the monument's front paws.

Coverup

"Yes, there have been crashed craft, and bodies have been recovered. . . . We are not alone in the universe; they have been coming here for a long time. . . . I am privileged enough to know that we have visited this planet and that the UFO phenomenon is natural.

– Doctor Edgar Mitchell, 6th man to walk on the moon.

Longtime U.S. Army veteran Colonel Philip James Corso published a book titled The Day After Roswell, in which he details the information and other aspects about the bodies and extraterrestrial technology that were recovered.

The craft featured handprints like those in the picture below. According to Tom Delonge in a podcast he did with Joe Rogan, these pictures are the real deal. When it came time to back-engineer the craft, no engine was discovered. Still, pilots placed their humanoid hands in these slots. They guided the craft using their minds—a type of telepathic technology that we have yet to discover.

Paul Hellyer, Canada's former Minister of National Defence: "Decades ago, visitors from other planets warned us about where we were headed and offered to help. But instead, we, or at least some of us, interpreted their visits as a threat and decided to shoot first and ask questions after."

Sphinx on Mars

NASA has been beaming photos from space since their mobile robot Curiosity landed there in August 2012. Joe White noticed a chunk of rock in the footage, which looked bizarrely like an enormous, long statue, complete with a head.

I was astounded at the giant head detail when I looked at this NASA image. The door-like archway to the right of the possible sphinx head also caught my eye. I darkened the picture to see if that would help, and the detail just jumped off the screen at me.

John Brandenburg, a well-known and respected plasma physicist, joined several colleagues in blowing the whistle on the need for disclosure. They argue there are things " out there" that have been deliberately kept from us. Whether this information has been concealed because the human race is not ready for it, that it's just too "mind-altering" and would change too many things, or because its disclosure would threaten various corporate interests remains unclear and too broad a subject to tackle here. According to Brandenburg, there was a nuclear blast that completely changed the planet.

Brandenburg hypothesizes that these nuclear isotopes can be detected because of a sizeable atomic blast. This blast was responsible for the atmospheric shift seen on Mars, and according to Brandenburg, another civilization living on Mars at the time is likely responsible.

An enlargement of the Aztec Head appears to be a damaged carving depicting a distorted human face with ornaments. In the author's opinion, this object is a carved artifact. Its presence on Mars is entirely consistent with the Cydonian Hypothesis of a widespread humanoid civilization that dates from a long Earth-like climate on Mars.

[dynamic-agenda]

IRAN LAUNCHES MASSIVE DRONE BARRAGE AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA

31/06/2024

(WASHINGTON, Fox News) Iran on Sunday launched a massive drone barrage against Riyadh, fulfilling its promises for retaliation after the 27/06 air strikes. The Saudi Defence Minister stated that 18 ‘Delta Wave’ unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and seven Quds-1 cruise missiles have been fired from the north. Whilst the Saudi missile defense system intercepted a large number of the missiles fired, falling debris still caused economic damage and fatal casualties on the civilian population.

Capitol Hill on Monday promised solidarity with Saudi Arabia, promising increased arms and economic aid for the Riyadh based government. It has also condemned Iran’s strikes, highlighting its failures for returning to constructive debate on denuclearization. 

The Security Council’s lack of comment or action on the attacks has stood in stark contrast to its rapid condemnation and action following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The lack of calls for restraint from any countries has also been observed, heightening fears over a protracted and escalated conflict.  Without rapid and strong action, the ongoing conflict risks wider escalation, strengthening critics of the UNSC, who pointed out its inconsistency and ineffectiveness, mirroring its serious lack of action in the 1994 Rwandan Civil War and the 1992 Bosnian War.